At last we check-in to Albergo del Senato

On the way to the hotel (where we were dying to be) Franco wanted to show us something-the last thing on his list of Roman sights. Through narrow streets he took us to see the Spanish Steps where people with nothing better to do like to sit out in the sun. He had to drop us off and find a place to park.

This crowd spilled into the side streets all around. We could now cross it off Franco's list. If I go back to sit on the stairs like a tourist I will go earlier in the day or later in the evening.

At the hotel, in Pantheon Square, known locally as Piazza della Rotonda, we said goodbye to Franco with our thanks, a tip and the Rome in Limo fee (paid in cash Euros) and went into the hotel.

I had been looking forward to this moment all day-no longer on the move, keeping up with a schedule. Now, once in our room, our time was our own.

The hotel had already moved our luggage up to our room once the room had been cleaned. We had a Junior Suite on the 6 th floor as our home for the next two nights.

We found ourselves in the World's Smallest Elevator...

Up on the 6th and our room is straight ahead.

I'll show the room and the hotel as we go along. Once we enter a room we have a routine which never varies-Carol unpacks and I get out of her way.

I immediately went back into the hallway and climbed a flight of stairs at the top of which my new favorite place in Rome was waiting- the rooftop bar of Albergo del Senato! (open to hotel guests only from 4 pm onwards)

This is how to relax! Cold beer and olives from the bar. They have their own small olive trees on the roof but it takes days of preparation before they are edible, once picked.

It was "magic light" time, when the sun is low and preparing to set. I took a look over the low wall to see the square below.

Music wafted up from below. We would soon find that buskers would set up here from 11 a.m to maybe 9 p.m. Accordionists, singers with guitars and a great little duo of drums and guitar who played Pink Floyd songs. They all sounded good and added to the lively atmosphere of the square.

The Pantheon is very close to the hotel

The view away from the square finds the Victor Emmanuel II monument in the distance

Soon we would lose the light

With the night falling it was time for me to unpack and then have a quick nap before heading out for dinner. Carol was already trying to sleep but the music in the square was wafting up to the 6 th floor.

Next- time to eat!